When You Want What Is Not Yours to Have (pursuing contentment)

This is an excerpt (with a few tweaks) from a post I wrote to my sisters-in-Christ who are attending the Proverbs 31 She Speaks Conference this week. I thought it might be insightful and encouraging to some of you as well.

On the eve of another She Speaks conference, I’m finding myself once again not going to the conference and without having “moved” much tangibly in my ministry. As much as I’d like to say I’m above a bit o’ jealousy, I’m not. Most of us are not, I’d guess.

I attended the conference in 2012 and had an amazing time, learning tons, being incredibly encouraged, and meeting wonderful people. (Read my takeaway from that conference in this post.)

“My” plan was to go back to She Speaks the next year and the next, get a book published, begin speaking, then we’d see. But God has other, better plans, I’m sure; and once again I won’t be attending this year. So I’ve been wrestling with obedience and learning to rest on His timing.

That’s my message for all of you She Speak women (and everyone of us, really) who may have your next few months or years planned out or who may be feeling left out because you will be home this year instead of jetting to NC:

We all go through different seasons in our lives. Right now, God knows best that I need to be here as I release the second of my boys into the great big world. When the timing is right, He will open the doors and even lay down the path to conferences and ministry opportunities.

So as you see others do “great” things for the Kingdom, take your next step–the great Kingdom step that lay before you in this season; pray for your sisters in Christ who are propelled into the writing, speaking, and ministry world; and rest in God’s plan.

After all, we don’t want to be shoved into the limelight before God properly prepares us. God knows. He’s weaving an incredible adventure for each of us; it may just look a bit different than we expect.

Praying for all of you, dear sisters.

Seed of Contentment

When we are tempted to covet, when we are facing down jealousy, when we see the grass as greener on the other side of the fence, it’s time to sow the seed of contentment. Resting in God’s promise of love and purpose and hope.

The Lord has a plan, a good plan, the best plan, for each of us. It’s our job to learn to see the adventure of each season and the gift of each moment and to rest in the space of now as we wait on His always perfect timing.

And in Christ is the strength and perspective to do just that.

“And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person.A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial:

to one is given a message of wisdomthrough the Spirit,to another, a message of knowledgeby the same Spirit,to another, faith by the same Spirit,to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit,to another, the performing of miracles,to another, prophecy,to another, distinguishing between spirits,to another, different kinds of languages,to another, interpretation of languages.

But one and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as He wills.” (1 Corinthians 12:6-11)

Reflection: Is their something that sparks an ember of jealousy in your heart? How can you begin to replace that ember with the seed of contentment?

This post is part of Bonnie Gray’s Finding Spiritual Whitespace Blog Tour,

I'm so glad you're here to walk with me through this messy but glorious journey called life! Please consider sharing this post with your family and friends. And don't miss a single piece of encouragement! Sign up to get every post in your inbox. It's free, and you'll receive free gifts just for signing up. Oh, you can unsubscribe at any time.